There are actually "shelf" companies out there that simply engage in "submarine" patent practice. They acquire as many "vague" patents as possible (or even specific ones), then go into hiding. They don't operate, never use the patents... and just wait.
10 or so years later, they resurface and sure they hell out of anyone they can. Its a very effective way to make money.
I agree 100% that patents (as they are used today) are completely screwed. They don't benefit anyone - except lawyers - and just make it even harder for smaller companies to compete with the big boys.
They also encourage companies to not actively "check" for patents that are taken... did you know that if in a patent settlement case, it can be shown/proven that you "checked" for relevant patents before you started your tech, the court treats this as "intentionally stealing", and its an automatic "3x" payment, based on whatever the payout is.
I would love to see patents completely scrapped - 100%. This whole "R&D discouragement" theory is a load of BS. The free market is more than capable of dealing with these issues in other ways.
And whoever is running the patent office should be shot. About 99% of existing patents should never have gone through.
Gesta Non Verba
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